St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-09-17
WONDERFUL L LONGEVITY.

WONDERFUL LONGEVITY.
~ sLiss-Prsssrvs.e Ioasssss ssWlss -.
0es and Ahseeoieos nohses.
The common idea is. that longevity
depends entirely on inherited consfitu-
ton. The man whose father and
mother. grandparents and greatgrand-
parents attained high average ago 10
supposed to have . much better chance
Of long life than one whose forefathers
have been short lived. Probably there
is much truth in this idea; but il il not
improbable. and the point seems worth
careful study. that longevity Is affected
indirectly rather than directly By in
heritance. 1t may well b that the
descendant Of long lived folk il apt to b
long lived. not solely or chiefly because
he inherits constitutional peculiaritiss
tending to length Of life. but because
he iDherits qualities leading to temper.
ance and abstinence by which life ID
prolonged. or even simply because
temperance and abstinence have been
encouraged during his youth by sx-
ample and by precept
Considering the question Of longevity
from this point Of view. the case of
Louis Cornaro. which has always been
thought most instructive. becomes full
also Of encouragement
In the first place. il must b remem-
bered that Cornaro (who WAS born as
Venice about the year 146O was . man
of weak constitution. Moreover. from
the age Of eighteen to that of tAirty-fvs
he pursued courses that would have
seriously taxed the strongest eonstitu-
ton. Life at thirty-iivs WAS . burden
to him because Of the disorders brought
on by riotous living and indulgence in
every kind Of excess. The next i've
years were passed in almost unremitted
suffering. He was told BY his ply
sicianA when forty years old. that moth
ing could prolong his life for more than
two or three years. but such Life ~ ~
mained to him might be less painful
than the years he had recently lived IL
he would adopt more temperate habits.
II ever there wss case where inherited
constitution and An Incorporate lie
threatened an early death. this was
one. But as events befell. it turned
out that, il ever there Was case where
life-preserving influence Of wise regi-
men and abstemious habits was demon
strated. Cornaro's mnst b cited - -
pecially significant
At the age Of forty Cornaro began
gradually to reduce the quantity Of
food. both liquid and solid. which he
took each day. till at length be only
took what nature absolutely required.
He tells us that ut first he found this
severe regimen very disagreeble. and
confesses that ''he relspsed from time
to time to the fiesh-pots Of Egypt"
But by resuming his efforts after each
failure he succeeded, in less than .
year. in adopting permanently . spare
and moderate system. BY this time he
was already restored to perfect health.
But thus far be had only followed the
counsels Of the physicians somewhat
more steadily than they expected. or
than is usual in such cases. and there
fore with unexpected good results. 1t
was after he had recovered his health
that he went on to those experiments
by which he seemed to show how life
may be extended far beyond tho Psal-
mist's allowance.
From temperance he proceeded to
abstemiousness. Undeterred by tho
doubts of his physicians as to the wis
dom of such . course. he diminished
his daily allowance Of food. until at last
the yelk Of an egg suficed him for .
meal! Throughout the time when he
was thus reducing has allowance Of food
his health and spirits kept improving.
Nay. he tells Us that even his enjov-
ment in eating had increased. for hs
says he could now get more pleasure
from . small meal Of dry bread than hs
had ever obtained in the days Of his ex-
cesses from the most exquisite dainties
Of the table. As regards regimen.
Cornaro simply avoided extremes Of
heat and cold. over-fstigue. late hours.
excesscs. and all violent passions a the
mind;" he took moderate exercise in
the open air; and his chief pleasures
were those obtained from literary and
artistic study. from the contemplation
Of one scenery. noble building. beauti-
full combinations Of color and sweet
music.
When Cornaro was within two years
Of four score his diet was regulated in
quality and quantity. - follows: In
four meals he took each day twelve
ounces in all Of solid food, consisting
Of bread (stale. of course. for he was
not weak-minded). light meat yelk oi
egg. and soup. Richard A. Proctor. -
Cospsopolitan.
Why Junks Have Eyes.
Chinese junks and boats have eyes
carved or painted on the bows. which